considering attempting suicide (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.20, 3.18), making a suicide plan (OR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.02, 3.06), at- tempting suicide (OR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.02, 2.91), and receiving psychological or emotional counseling (OR = 2.71; 95% CI = 1.80, 4.07). Whites were more likely to report feeling sad or hopeless (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.06, 2.25), seriously considering attempting suicide (OR = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.38, 3.57), making a suicide plan (OR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.36, 4.05), and receiving psychological or emotional counseling (OR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.56, 3.40). Juveniles not living with one or both parents before detention were more likely to report feeling sad or hopeless (OR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.27, 2.75), seriously attempting suicide (OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.54, 4.06), making a suicide plan (OR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.30, 3.90), and attempting suicide (OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.20, 3.50). Conclusions: While male and female juvenile detainees report pre-admission symptoms of depression and suicidal behaviors that place them at risk for significant morbidity and mortality, females and white males may be especially at risk. In addition, teens that did not live with one or both of their parents were more likely to report depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. Further re- search examining the role of family support systems may reveal the role living with parents plays in the pre-admission mental health of juvenile detainees. PII: S1054-139X(04)00314-3 11. THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF ADOLESCENT OFFENDERS IN AUSTRALIA Mark Allerton, M.Psych, Una Champion, BHlthSc, Tony Butler, Ph.D, Dianna Kenny, Ph.D, and Andrew Kennedy, M.D., FRACP, NSW Dept of Juvenile Justice, Justice Health, and University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Purpose: To conduct the first comprehensive survey of the phys- ical and mental health of young Australians in custody and to use the results to a) study the links between health status and social background on crime-related behaviour and b) develop healthcare policy and service delivery in juvenile justice centres in accor- dance with areas of greatest need. Methods: All young people remanded or sentenced to a period of custody between January and March 2003 were eligible for inclu- sion. The survey consisted of a physical and mental health ques- tionnaire including self-report on health status and risk behaviours. A standardised physical assessment was performed including blood tests for sexually transmitted infections. Standardised psy- chological tests assessed cognitive and intellectual ability. Back- ground demographic information was also collected. Results: 242 of a possible 319 young people participated in the survey (76%). Of these 223 (92%) were young men. Social Back- ground: 43% had a parent incarcerated in the past and 11% had a parent currently incarcerated. 42% were of Aboriginal origin. 42% reported physical abuse and 10% reported sexual abuse. 10% were parents themselves. Physical Health: Most rated their own health as good, very good or excellent. Asthma and ear infections were the most commonly reported diagnoses regarding physical health. Mental Health: 84% reported mild, moderate or severe symptoms consistent with a clinical disorder. The 3 most prevalent disorders were Conduct Disorder, Substance Abuse Disorder and Adjust- ment Disorder. 19% of males and 24% of females had seriously considered attempting suicide. Risk Behaviours: 33% of males and 44% of females rarely used condoms for penetrative sex with casual partners. 19% had injected drugs in the 12 months prior to custody (17% males 47% females). Intellectual and Educational Performance: 75% had left school before year 9 and 90% had been suspended. The mean Full Scale IQ was in the low average range. 17% had intelligence scores consistent with intellectual disability. Conclusions: Young people in custody in NSW are often from very disadvantaged backgrounds characterised by family disrup- tion, poor educational attainment and regular risk taking behav- iour. Although they rate their physical health highly they have higher than community levels of blood borne virus infections and also have high levels of mental health symptoms. A more com- prehensive approach to health service provision is required to address the needs of this population whilst in custody. Support: There were no external sources of funding. PII: S1054-139X(04)00315-5 12. SUSPENDED MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ SELF-DESCRIPTIONS Susan M Yussman, MD MPH, Lisa B Handwerker, MD, Abhishek Nemani, and Tracy S Sesselberg, MA, Division of Ad- olescent Medicine & Strong Children’s Research Center, Uni- versity of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Background: Controversy exists regarding the association be- tween health risk behaviors and poor self-perception among stu- dents suspended from school. No study has yet to allow suspended adolescents to describe themselves in an open-ended fashion. Purpose: To survey long-term suspended middle and high school students in order to describe their health profiles and self-percep- tions. Methods: We surveyed long-term suspended middle and high school students attending an alternative education program in Rochester, New York. Students completed the Guidelines for Ad- olescent Preventative Services (GAPS) questionnaire in a class- room setting in spring 2004. We collected and analyzed responses from the 170 students choosing to participate. We analyzed demo- graphics and health profile questions using simple frequencies and chi square tests with SPSS software. We summarized responses qualitatively, using content and inductive analyses, as well as analytical triangulation, for the two open-ended questions: 1) “What four words best describe you?” and 2) “If you could change one thing about your life or yourself, what would it be?” Results: Participants were 12-18 years of age; 51% female; and 70% African American, 13% Hispanic, 16% Mixed Race, and 2% White. Overall, 41% of teens reported ever being in trouble with the law and 9% worried about a family member’s substance use. Most (85%) reported having at least one friend they can talk to, while only 71% reported having a parent/guardian who listens to them (80% of males vs. 63% of females, p = 0.03; 81% of African Americans vs. 46% of Hispanic vs. 50% of Mixed, p = 0.002). Two-thirds of teens reported ever having sexual intercourse (73% of 15-18 year olds vs. 50% of 12-14 year olds, p = 0.01), with the mean age at first intercourse of 13 years. Fifteen percent had either 116 Abstracts / 36 (2005) 111-154